Cowslips, primulas and primroses all bring a feeling
of nostalgia to those hailing from the other side of the word. Cowslips used
to grow wild in the fields with daisies and buttercups and my mum can recall picking
the flowers to make cowslip necklaces, like a daisy chain. Mum has no memories
of cowslip wine though this was made back then from these delicately scented flowers.
Nowadays cowslips are no longer found growing wild, possibly grazing of animals
or fertilising causing the grass to choke out wild flower seeds may be the reason
for this. Cowslips are primula veris; the veris word indicating that this
is the true primula. This was the one used herbally. It was used for
coughs and also for pain and spasms. In fact one of its old country names is palsy
wort. Wort means plant sow e know that one of its medicinal uses in the past was
for the treatment of palsy or paralysis. The
photo shows a very early spring posy of the small pale yellow flowers of cowslips
which have orange spots inside the bloom together with the stunning primrose,
Primula Vulgaris, Hose in Hose. These delightful primroses are intriguing
with one flower seeming to be growing out of another. This variety is a traditional
pale yellow primrose colour but they are available in vibrant shades as well.
The bright red flowers are polyanthus which are really a cross between primroses
and primulas. These colour spots are easily obtained in your garden centres
where the true English Cowslip and the collectable Hose in Hose Primroses will
take a little more tracking down. Early spring flowering plants such as primroses
and primulas are worthwhile growing fort he wonderful lift to the spirit they
give when one comes across the first blooms in the garden. Shakespeare was
very enamored of the cowslip, primula veris mentioning it in his writings at least
six times with descriptions of some aspect of this dainty flower which had delighted
him. Shakespeare also mentioned primroses, primula vulgaris, talking about
“the primrose path of dalliance”, thought to describe the path through the woods
he traveled on returning to his mother’s home after courting the lady he went
on to make his wife. Primulas can be grown form seed or established clumps
can be split up during the dormant period in late autumn. Enjoy some English
nostalgia in your spring garden.
The Herb Farm Grove Road, RD10 Ashhurst Manawatu New Zealand
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